Abstract: Shears suitable for cutting sheet metal and other materials and having a pivoting handle and multiple blades to facilitate the making of a variety of useful cuts. The shears includes two handles and two pivotally connected blades. One handle provides a rigid continuation of a generally V-shaped blade; the other handle is free to swing between extreme positions through an arc of about 180 degrees. The swinging handle pivots on a pivot pin carried by one of the blades. The other blade has a pair of cutting edges to provide scissor action with the cutting edges of the V-shaped blade. A pivot pin extends generally transversely to and is located between the cutting edges at one side of the other blade, and the pivoting handle is free to swing thereon. Scissor action results as the pivot pin transfers the applied moment caused by squeezing the swinging handle relative to the other handle to the other blade to thereby rotate the blades relative to one another.

Abstract: A dental cleaning slurry and method of cleaning teeth comprising an aqueous suspension of particulate material having a hardness which is softer than the softest exposed part of the teeth. The slurry is directed against the teeth under sufficient water pressure for the particulate material to penetrate and dislodge any plaque or food particles that may adhere to the teeth.

Abstract: A teat cup assembly for automatic milking machines employing a vacuum milk line and a pulsating vacuum line is disclosed. The assembly comprises a rigid, tubular outer shell and an elongate, tubular, inflation member having a novel mouth-forming diaphragm at one end thereof for engaging the teat of a cow to retain the teat cup assembly from falling off the teat at the end point of milking. A sleeve member is adapted to secure the upper end of the inflation in expanded condition to the upper end of the shell. The sleeve member is also adapted to receive the mouth-forming diaphragm. The mouth-forming diaphragm has a central opening for receiving the teat of a cow, with the central opening having a circumference smaller than the cross-sectional circumference of the inflation. A protective cap member fits over the mouth-forming diaphragm and sleeve member.

Abstract: A lightweight burial vault made entirely of plastic with appropriate stabilizers and additives which can be sealed so as to be moisture proof and has sufficient strength and durability to withstand the loading forces of the fill earth, comprises a base unit forming the floor of the vault and a dome-like cover having a concave top integrally molded to the upstanding side and end walls thereof. A system of ribs is formed integrally to the outside of the cover, and means are provided for sealing the cover to the base unit. The base unit may have a plurality of spaced apart troughs extending thereacross to collect fluids inside the vault.

Abstract: A trash handling system including apparatus to pick up, dump, compact and store refuse material, all of which may be provided on a single vehicle such as a trailer assembly. The trailer assembly may be connected through a suitable trailer coupling to a pickup vehicle or other prime mover. Trash material is placed in a trash bin which is designed to be picked up and transported by an easily operated hand truck. The trash bin is wheeled to the vehicle on the hand truck and both the trash bin and hand truck are connected to a folding and elevating chute located on the trash haul system. The trash bin and hand truck are raised by the folding and elevating chute and the contents of the automatically opening trash bin are dumped into a receiving trough. Once inside the receiving trough, the trash is compacted by a hydraulic ram, and is thereafter pushed into a storage chamber for further compaction.

Abstract: A method and tool for making tapered, layered plastic toothpicks from a solid plastic slab wherein a rapidly rotating tool having a single cutting edge configured to simultaneously cut and roll a thin film of plastic into a toothpick of the desired shape with each complete revolution is brought into contact with the plastic slab at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A power supply system includes three sets of batteries for supplying direct current to a load. Three sets of switches connect mutually respective sets of batteries to the load. A controller operates the switching means so that at any time at least two of the sets of batteries are connected in parallel to the load. The controller alternates each set of switches in open and closed positions with the switches being operated in a predetermined, cyclic manner, so that during the cycle, each of the sets of batteries provides current to the load for a portion of the cycle and is disconnected from the load for the other portion of the cycle. Utilizing the sets of batteries in pairs so that each set of batteries provides only about half the current requirement and of repeatedly disconnecting each set of batteries for a short period of time while the other two sets of batteries supply the current which maximizes the life and performance of the batteries.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump and valve unit is disclosed which is particularly useful in a system using a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the cab of a truck. The unit includes a pump which is connected to a valve intake chamber which, in turn, opens axially into a flat end of a larger valve chamber. An annular thrust seal is slidably mounted in the valve intake chamber, and spring means biases the thrust seal against the flat end of a valve spool which is rotatably mounted in the valve chamber. The valve spool has a pair of flow passages therein which connect respective ports in the flat end of the valve spool with corresponding ports in the cylindrical surface of the valve spool. The ports in the cylindrical surface of the valve spool register with a second pair of cooperating flow passages which deliver hydraulic fluid under pressure from the unit to a system such as a hydraulic cylinder, and return hydraulic fluid from such system to the unit.

Abstract: A system for alerting drivers of vehicles which have an overall height too great to clear an overhead obstruction in their path. Respective pairs of cooperating light sources and light sensors are spaced at appropriate distances from each other and in advance of the overhead structure, with the light beam from each light source being directed to the corresponding light sensor with which such light source is paired. The respective light beams are momentarily interrupted or broken as a vehicle having an excessive overall height passes the successive pairs of light sources and light sensors. When the light beams have been broken in sequence and within a preset, given time period, a signal is sent to the control station which in turn activates a visible, flashing, electric sign indicating that the approaching vehicle is too high to clear the obstruction and warning the driver of the vehicle to stop or exit from the thoroughfare.

Abstract: Unique identifying symbols, such as bar codes, are preprinted on, or affixed to, each of a plurality of source documents. A scanning and recording device simultaneously reads the identifying symbol appearing on a given source document and records the image thereof on an image storage medium, such as photographic film. Also stored on the image storage medium, adjacent to each image stored thereon, is an address symbol to indicate the relative location at which a desired image is stored. Synchronization means coupled to the scanning and recording device generate an electrical data address word corresponding to this address symbol. This data address word is then combined with a similar data identifying word, generated as the scanning device reads the identifying symbol appearing on each source document, to form a data index word.

Abstract: A puzzle type toy comprises a hexahedral, solid body having a plurality of bores of uniform depth extending inwardly from three sides thereof. A plurality of uniform length rods, equal in number to the number of bores in the solid body, are adapted to be inserted into the bores. The rods have various combinations of notches in the sidewalls thereof whereby the rods can all be received in the bores only when the rods are inserted in their respective bores in a particular, preset order, otherwise an interference will occur between the rods as they are inserted into the bores.

Abstract: An inflation for use in a teat cup assembly for automatic milking machines employing a vacuum milk line and a pulsating vacuum line is disclosed. The inflation comprises an elongate, tubular, body member having a novel mouth-forming diaphragm at one end thereof for engaging the teat of a cow to retain the teat cup assembly from falling off the teat at the end point of milking. The mouth-forming diaphragm is formed by bonding one end of a relatively short tubular mouth-forming member to one end of the body member, wherein the mouth-forming member has a maximum cross-sectional dimension smaller than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the tubular body member.

Abstract: A flow regulating device provides continuous, regulated flow of a medical fluid, as well as intermittent, manually controlled larger flows of fluid to a catheter system. Such apparatus includes a control member having an inlet means adapted to be connected by tubing to a source of medical fluid and an outlet means adapted to be connected by tubing to a catheter. A flexible conduit defines at least a portion of a first passage between the inlet means and outlet means of the control member. A cylindrical, hollow extension extends from the outlet means coaxially within and to about the midsection of the flexible conduit. Positioned in the flexible conduit is valve means adapted to open when the conduit is squeezed, thereby providing the larger, intermittent, manually controlled flow of fluid to the catheter system, and to automatically close when the conduit is released.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of water. A water filter is mated with a housing base and cover to form an integral unit to treat water. A valve connected to a water faucet diverts the flow of water from the tap through a filter inlet tube, through the filter and back to the valve via a filter discharge tube. A second position on the valve permits the water flow from the faucet to by-pass the treatment filter. The replaceable filter has indicator means to visually indicate whether or not satisfactory flow is being maintained through the unit and whether or not the filter should be changed.

Abstract: A chuck assembly which is adapted for quick and easy engagement and disengagement with work arbors having various working tools mounted thereon. The chuck assembly comprises an elongate cylindrical chuck member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough. One end of the chuck member is adapted to be attached to the shaft of a drive motor and the other end is adapted to receive a work arbor in concentric engagement therewith. Means are provided in combination with the chuck member for positively locking the work arbor in engagement with the chuck member when the chuck member and arbor are in rotational movement about their longitudinal axes. When the chuck assembly is at rest, the arbor is easily and quickly disengaged from the chuck member by moving the locking means to its disengaging position and pulling the arbor from the end of the chuck member.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting when the tying mechanism of a baler has failed to properly tie a cord or wire around a bale which has been formed in the baler, and further for producing an alarm for the operator of the baler that the tying mechanism is not functioning properly. The apparatus includes a sensor needle which is mounted for pivotal movement over one of the surfaces of the bale and beneath the tying cord which extends lengthwise along the surface of the bale of material which is being formed. If the tying mechanism has securely knotted the cord around the bale of material, the tied cord will engage the sensor needle and pivot the sensor needle back as the tied bale moves towards the discharge end of the bale forming chute. A clock mechanism is provided which activates an alarm if the sensor needle is not engaged and swung back within a preset time interval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for raising plant and animal life in a marine environment. Fish, snails, other animal life as well as plants are raised in a raceway which is embedded in a bed of porous material with one end lower than the other. Temperature controlled water flows through the raceway with the water movement helping to maintain the water clean of waste products and nitrates that normally accumulate in circulating water tanks. If necessary, geothermal water conducted through tubes proximate to the raceway can be used to maintain the flowing water in the raceway at an ideal temperature for promoting the rapid growth of the fish, plant and animal life. When the fish or other animals being cultivated are ready to be harvested, a catch box designed for use in the raceway is pulled along the raceway. The catch box, with the captured cultivated animals is then removed from the raceway.